I thought all vacuum mops performed more or less the same until I tested the Gtech Orca
It's my new favourite appliance
The Gtech Orca Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner delivers one of the strongest cleaning performances I've seen from a vacuum mop. It vacuums, mops and self-cleans, achieving seriously impressive results with minimal effort. Its flexible swivel head makes manoeuvring around furniture much easier, while the generous-sized water tank adds extra convenience. If you're looking to transform your cleaning routine, there's very little not to like here.
-
+
Vacuums, mops, cleans and dries itself in one
-
+
Impressive cleaning power
-
+
Generous-sized water tank
-
+
Flexible swivel head provides extra reach
-
+
Features a digital display and voice assistant
-
+
Charging station doubles as storage tray
-
-
It won't fully replace a vacuum
-
-
It's loud
Why you can trust Ideal Home Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Best known for its cordless vacuums, Gtech has built its reputation on simple, fuss-free cleaning. The Gtech Orca Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner marks its first proper move into the wet-and-dry hard floor category.
I'm a big fan of vacuum mops for keeping my kitchen floors clean and staying on top of everyday mess in my family home. I've tested a lot of different models, so it takes something special for one to stand out. After using the Orca daily for two weeks, I can honestly say it's a cut above many of its competitors, and may well have earned a spot as my new favourite...
In a nutshell
The Gtech Orca Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner is a powerful all-in-one that takes the hassle out of cleaning floors. If I'm honest, I didn't expect to feel quite as impressed - but this one genuinely streamlined my cleaning routine by vacuuming, mopping and drying in one go.
The biggest standout for me, and arguably the most important feature, is its cleaning power. It felt a clear cut above the competition, tackling everything from everyday debris to more stubborn, sticky mess with ease - often in a single pass, which is rare in this category.
It's also incredibly low-maintenance. The self-cleaning function works effectively, and I rarely found myself needing to manually remove trapped debris afterwards, which is something I've often found to be an added chore with other machines.
It's not the lightest model out there, but the flexible swivel-head and self-propelling motion make it easy to manoeuvre. Cleaning my floors has never been my favourite job, but the Orca made it surprisingly effortless, and even enjoyable!
Gtech Orca Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner specifications
- Dimensions: (L x W x H): (H) 115cm x (W) 29cm x (D) 26cm
- Weight: 4.1 kg
- Max run time: Eco: up to 40 mins, Max: up to 25 mins, Mopping: up to 20 mins
- Clean water tank capacity: 0.8 Litres
- Waste Water Tank 0.7 Litres
- Modes: 3
- Charge time: 5.5 hours
- In the box: Orca vacuum mop, accessories holder, charging base, charger, cleaning solution, cleaning tool
- RRP: £349.99
How I tested
I'm Rebecca. I write freelance content for Ideal Home, and I'm always on the lookout for home upgrades that make my home life smoother (especially with three young children!)
I tested the Orca Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner in my three-bedroom home, which has hard flooring throughout the kitchen, conservatory, hallways and two bathrooms. I used it at least twice a day during the testing process.
Unboxing, assembly and first impressions
The Gtech Orca Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner arrived in a large cardboard box that was heavy but manageable for me to carry. The box opened sideways, and the instructions, cleaning brush, and solution sat on top of a layer of moulded cardboard. Beneath that, the main unit and accessories were secured on a further layer of cardboard.
Each item was individually wrapped in plastic packaging, labelled CEP 7. It wasn't immediately obvious whether the plastic was recyclable, but after a quick online search, I found it can be – but does need to be taken to a designated recycling point. While I'd have preferred the convenience of recycling at home, the packaging was still fairly eco-friendly overall.
The contents consisted of the main unit and handle, instruction manual, charging base, charger, solution, cleaning brush and two accessory holders.
Assembling the Orca Cordless was straightforward. All I needed to do was insert the handle into the main body - which did take a little more force than I expected - making sure it was aligned correctly.
Like most hard floor cleaners, it includes a charging base, but what stood out to me was that it includes two separate accessory holders, which slot neatly onto each side. I haven't come across this before, but it's a useful addition for keeping everything organised.
After docking it on the base, I took a moment to take a proper look at the Orca. This definitely sits at the premium end of the scale - it looked and felt high-quality from the get-go. I particularly appreciated the neat LED display at the top of the handle, and the clean water tank looked generously sized.
The black-and-white design helps it stand out from many competitors and gives it a more distinctive, presence-led look. While it's not the most lightweight or ultra-slim model out there, it felt durable and built to last.
The manual advises fully charging the unit before first use, which takes around 5.5 hours. Once you plug in the docking station, the LED display on the handle flashes a battery icon to show it's charging, and a voice assistant also confirms it's powering up. I haven't come across this before, and I think it's a genuinely handy feature. As instructed, I left it to charge for around five hours, and then it was ready to use.
To get started, I removed the clean water tank from the back of the unit, which came away easily enough. While most vacuum mops tend to have wider, more rounded water tanks, the Orca is much taller and slimmer in design. At 0.8 litres, the clean water tank is on the bigger side – something I was pleased about, as it suggested fewer trips to the sink mid-clean.
That said, the tank's shape means you need to tilt it slightly to fill, so it felt a little fiddly at first, though you'll likely get used to it over time. Gtech also provides a cleaning solution with the machine, which has a fresh, laundry-like scent. I personally think this makes a big difference, as I'm not a fan of overly clinical-smelling solutions. I added three capfuls of the solution, screwed the lid back on, and slotted the tank back into place.
Using the Gtech Orca Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner
General Cleaning
The Gtech Orca Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner has three cleaning modes: Sterilising Water, where water is dispensed and collected for washing floors; Eco Vacuum, which uses lower suction without dispensing water for an extended run time; and Max Vacuum, which increases suction power for more intensive pickup, also without using water.
To get started, I stepped on the floor head and pulled the handle back, then pressed the power button located just beneath the screen on the upper handle. It took about three seconds to power up, at which point the display illuminated and the voice prompt confirmed it was ready to go.
The first thing I noticed was the sound. While most vacuum mops aren't particularly quiet, the Orca is slightly louder than previous models I've tested. On reflection, I'd say this is something that reflects its more substantial build.
The Orca defaults to Sterilising Water mode, so I used this for its first run. As I pushed it back and forth over my kitchen floors, it felt a little heavier than I expected. However, it also has a gentle, self-propelled pulling motion from the floor head, so I didn't have to apply much effort - it did most of the work for me.
The flexible swivel head is a real standout feature. It made a noticeable difference when manoeuvring around furniture and reaching into tighter corners and along edges.
The floors were left noticeably wet, but within a couple of minutes they were dry enough to walk on, and, importantly, they smelt really clean.
In terms of battery life, I mainly used it in Sterilising Water and Eco Vacuum modes, since Max mode drains the battery faster. Even so, I found this more than sufficient for everyday cleaning, and I simply got into the habit of popping it back on the charging dock between uses.
In the same way, the water tank comfortably lasted several cleans before needing a refill, which made day-to-day use feel convenient and low effort.
I was really impressed with the Orca's general cleaning power, but I was keen to see how it would perform on more stubborn stains. With kids constantly tracking mud through the house, a particularly stubborn trail of dried-on mud across my floors needed tackling.
Admittedly, I'd left the mud stain to set for a while before I got to it. But to my surprise, the Orca lifted it completely within a couple of passes, leaving the floors gleaming, with far less effort than I was expecting.
Cleaning wet and dry spills
As part of Ideal Home's testing process, I carried out a controlled test to see how the Orca would handle a more challenging, deliberate mess. I cracked an egg onto the floor, squirted some tomato ketchup and scattered a handful of crushed Cheerios in its path.
Using Sterilising Water mode, I glided the Orca over the mess, and couldn't believe it when it removed every trace within the first pass. It's rare for a vacuum mop to lift bigger debris and sticky residue so effectively without needing to go back over the same area, so I was genuinely impressed.
I also checked underneath the roller mop afterwards, as it's not uncommon for bits of food to get trapped around the brush, but everything looked clean with no visible debris left behind.
The dirty water tank was a completely different story - it was absolutely filthy! Thankfully, it's easy to remove and empty, so I just gave it a quick rinse under soapy water.
After, I returned it to the charging dock and ran the self-clean cycle, which flushes any remaining dirt and debris into the dirty water tank. Overall, the whole process felt impressively low-maintenance.
Cleaning and maintenance
I found the Orca really simple to clean, and thanks to its self-cleaning function, it takes very little hands-on effort. After each use, I just popped it onto the charging station, made sure the clean water tank was at least half full, and pressed the self-clean button on the top of the handle. It then automatically kicked into its cleaning cycle.
From there, I could choose between Standard and Deep Clean using the button on the display, with a countdown showing the remaining seconds. Once the cycle finished, the charging symbol appeared on the screen, and I simply removed and emptied the wastewater tank.
The floor nozzle also needs cleaning occasionally. The manual doesn't specify how often, but I found it worth checking regularly - especially after tackling larger spills or stickier mess. There's a release button on the side of the floor head; once pressed, I could pull the end cap of the roller forward to remove the roller and rinse it under a tap. I also used this as a chance to quickly wipe down the rest of the machine before refitting everything else.
The manual also advises to check for any blockages if the cleaning performance drops. I haven't needed to do this yet, but it involves removing the waste water tank, roller cover and mopping roller, then inspecting the inlet and tube for any obstructions.
How does the Gtech Orca Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner compare to similar models?
Gtech is best known for its cordless vacuum cleaners (particularly its AirRAM range) but has more recently expanded into specialist cleaners - including the Koala Spot Cleaner, which I've also tested. Like the Koala, the Orca leans into the same no-fuss approach, but marks the brand's first move into wet-and-dry hard floor cleaning.
The Orca sits alongside strong competition from other vacuum mops. It's worth comparing it to the Shark HydroVac Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner, currently crowned Ideal Home's best overall vacuum mop - and was also tested by me. On paper, the Shark is lighter and can also freshen up small rugs and mats.
However, I preferred the Gtech Orca because I found the cleaning power much more impressive, and the swivel head made it much more manoeuvrable. They are very similar in price, though, so I believe you would be very happy with either.
At 4.1kg, the Orca is heavier than some lighter, sleeker models. But it weighs considerably less than the Tineco FLOOR ONE S5 - which is another of Ideal Home's top-rated vacuum mops. The Tineco also includes voice prompts and similar smart features, but goes a step further by automatically adjusting the suction, water flow, and brush speed depending on how much dirt it detects.
How does it rate online?
The reviews for the Gtech Orca Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner on the brand's website are very strong, with the product currently holding a 4.7-star rating from 242 customer reviews. That said, it's slightly frustrating that the reviews aren't directly accessible to read in full, making it harder to get a deeper sense of user feedback.
Beyond the Gtech website, the Orca doesn't appear to be widely listed across major retailer platforms. On Currys, it does, however, hold a 4.7-star rating from 26 reviews. Most users praise its cleaning efficiency and ease of use, with many highlighting how effective it is for everyday hard-floor maintenance. A small number of reviewers echoed my experience with the clean water tank, noting it can be a little fiddly to use, while one user also found the voice prompts jarring in practice.
Overall, customer feedback paints a consistently positive picture, particularly around cleaning performance and ease of use. While there are a few minor niggles mentioned, they don't appear to detract significantly from overall user satisfaction.
Verdict: Should you buy the Gtech Orca Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner?
If you're wondering whether a vacuum mop is worth the investment - and more specifically whether the Gtech Orca Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner is the right one to choose - it ticks a lot of boxes.
The cleaning power is head and shoulders above any vacuum mop I've tried (and I've tested a fair few). It's a great choice for busy households, pet owners, or open-plan homes with plenty of hard flooring, where quick, efficient cleanups are a priority.
If you particularly hate mopping and vacuuming your floors separately, the Orca streamlines the process by tackling both in one go, while also helping to dry floors as it goes. While many vacuum mops include a self-cleaning function, the Orca goes a step further, requiring very little hands-on maintenance and leaving minimal debris to deal with manually.
The voice prompts could be a bit of a marmite-feature for users. While I found them handy (especially to alert me that I needed to refill the water tank), they won't suit everyone, particularly if you prefer a quieter, more stripped-back cleaning experience.
Overall, if you're after a powerful, low-maintenance vacuum mop that delivers excellent results with minimal effort, the Gtech Orca Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner is one of the most impressive options I've tested.